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The following information appears on the AFB web pages and is used with permission.
American Foundation for the Blind, Northwest Vista College (San Antonio, Texas) and the Texas Education Agency
The AFB Textbooks and Instructional Materials Solutions Forum, in conjunction with AFB's National Education Program and National Literacy Center, has taken a leadership role in attacking the critical shortage of braille transcribers and offering new skills to current braille transcribers. The national need for more qualified textbook transcribers became widely known through the results of two of the three national surveys conducted in the spring of 2000 by the AFB Solutions Forum. These surveys addressed training and recruitment of braille transcribers and the production and delivery of textbooks. For the complete review of the results of the surveys, please go to www.afb.org/education.asp or www.tsbvi.edu/textbooks.afb.
In May 2001, the AFB Solutions Forum began an important and revolutionary project to define a new occupation as a braille textbook transcriber. A partnership with AFB, Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas, and the Texas Education Agency was established to develop a curriculum and a series of college courses for a new profession. Because AFB's National Literacy Center received federal appropriations funds through the Rehabilitation Services Administration, it was possible to begin the curriculum development process in 2001.
Prior to that time, in January 2000, the Division of Special Education at the Texas Education Agency held a meeting with braille production specialists from across the United States. This was an important meeting to build the case for developing a community college-based program to train new, certified, braille textbook transcribers.
The series of courses will be developed in the spring of 2002 and the initial course will begin in the fall of 2002. The new program is aimed at creating a career-based curriculum that can be replicated at other community colleges throughout the United States, therefore increasing the number of employed braille transcribers available to meet the critical need in this area.
To begin the process, Northwest Vista College used a three-stage employability skills assessment process called Work Keys (TM) to define the tasks and workplace skills necessary for the profession. Two ACT Work Keys (TM) Occupational Profiling meetings were conducted by Northwest Vista College on August 17 & 18 and August 24 & 25, 2001. A final report was developed by Northwest Vista College for AFB. In October 2001, experts in braille textbook transcribing organized the list of 31 job tasks (from the August 24/25 meeting) that were similar and complemented the other associated tasks. Four distinct subject areas with individual job tasks supporting these subject areas were defined.
The numbers shown below reflect the ranking of tasks as to the importance of each task to performing the job as a braille textbook transcriber. The list of 31 tasks shown below is from the final Work Keys Occupational Profiling meeting held on August 24/25, 2001.
October 17, 2001
Ability to read and write braille.
1. Demonstrate proficiency in transcribing, in proofreading, and in correcting braille errors
6. Acquire the ability to read ASCII braille
7. Appropriately utilize quality control to ensure dot quality, accurate braille, and accurate format
17. Demonstrate basic use of tactile graphic production methods
21. Have awareness of appropriate use of specialized codes: Nemeth, Music, Computer, Foreign Language and Chemistry
22. Possess the ability to read single-sided and interpointed braille
23. Understand simple graphics such as pie charts or simple graphs
24. Acquire the ability to produce 6-key computer direct entry braille
27. Acquire an appreciation and basic knowledge of how brailled texts are used and how blind students learn
28. Obtain NLS Literary Certification
29. Acquire knowledge of national certification requirements and types of certification
30. Acquire the ability to manually produce hard copy braille with a Perkins braillewriter and a slate and stylus
31. Acquire the knowledge of the evolution of braille and braille production
Correct placement of print to braille on a page.
3. Acquire basic knowledge of production process including formatting, transcribing, proofreading, correcting, and reproduction
4. Demonstrate basic troubleshooting and problem solving in formatting braille
5. Demonstrate proficiency in applying: Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription
7. Appropriately utilize quality control to ensure dot quality, accurate braille, and accurate format
9. Acquire techniques for quality control
10. Demonstrate proficiency in applying: English Braille American Edition (EBAE)
11. Develop the ability to effectively interpret and appropriately describe pictures and graphics in print books
12. Understand and translate literary contents
17. Demonstrate basic use of tactile graphic production methods
22. Possess the ability to read single-sided and interpointed braille
23. Understand simple graphics such as pie charts or simple graphs
27. Acquire an appreciation and basic knowledge of how brailled texts are used and how blind students learn
Using software and hardware to produce braille textbooks.
2. Acquire the ability to use current braille transcription and translation software
8. Demonstrate a knowledge of computer applications to include programming techniques
13. Demonstrate computer literacy which includes knowledge of appropriate components
14. Acquire the knowledge of appropriate use of current scanning software to include imaging, editing, OCR enhancements
15. Create, zip/unzip, save and transfer different braille software formats
16. Demonstrate basic troubleshooting and problem solving techniques, such as software, computer equipment, and interfacing different equipment
18. Possess the ability to appropriately use network expertise
19. Use e-mail and appropriate attachments to transfer files
20. Acquire basic knowledge of braille production equipment
23. Understand simple graphics such as pie charts or simple graphs
24. Acquire the ability to produce 6-key computer direct entry braille
26. Obtain knowledge of various media commonly exported from publishers' files
Job practices that will develop for-profit strategies as a braille textbook transcriber.
9. Acquire techniques for quality control
18. Possess the ability to appropriately use network expertise
20. Acquire basic knowledge of braille production equipment
25. Develop knowledge in administering a small business and/or setting up private contracts
For information about the series of courses for the Braille Textbook Transcriber career, contact:
Vivian Seki
Northwest Vista College
3535 North Ellison Drive
San Antonio, TX 78251-4217
210-348-2081
E-mail: vseki@accd.edu
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